Moving to DC area soon. Will you please help me find a bike friendly neighborhood?

[jorgsofi]

Hi. I’ll be moving to the DC area very soon. I’m not very familiar with the area. I’m looking for a neighborhood that is very bike friendly. I’ve been doing some research online, but figured the best input might come from a forum like this one, where I could get opinions from people who live in the area.

Which neighborhoods in DC, Arlington and Alexandria would you say are the most bike friendly?

Other neighborhood criteria that I have, and that are not directly related to bike friendliness:

• Metro stop nearby
• Relatively safe
• Relatively quiet
• Relatively easy to find a 1 BR for less than $2,000/month
• Parks and gardens nearby (not a must, but nice to have)

Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!

Topic

[elbows]

Here’s my two cents. Apologies if I’m repeating what others have said.

You can easily find nice places for under 2K in South Arlington. Part of the reason it costs less is because it is (depending on the spot) a little over a mile to the metro but that’s not a huge deal if you ride. Arlington Village has a wooded ravine and mature trees and there are other places in South Arlington. Barcroft Park is the only South Arlington park to speak of.

Del Ray is pleasant but doesn’t have a lot of nice places in the good section under 2K. There are more <2K by Potomac Yards which is kind of ugly in my opinion.

In DC, places to consider are SW below the 395 highway. Nice tree-lined streets. Cleveland Park is also nice and close to Rock Creek. Lots of apartment buildings along Connecticut and you could ride through Rock Creek which will give you a hill coming home. Close to the metro so paying more for that.

Also in DC, Glover Park is a really neat neighborhood and it has the price-advantage of not being super close to the metro. Nice trees, close to Glover-Archbold Park. Its kind of ecologically dead but then aren’t we all.

Finally, in DC, Brookland might be appealing. A little farther out so less expensive. Close to a nice trail into DC (Met Branch) but it does have periodic crime incidents.

Check Zillow for places too.

[GovernorSilver]

@lordofthemark 146122 wrote:

I would not pay the premium for being really close to a metro station.

I think housing is still pretty cheap over by the Huntington metro station. I live next it. My mortgage payment is lower than some folks’ monthly apartment rent. Well, it’s definitely under $2000/month. 😎

To the OP, welcome to the forum.

[TTPaws]

@TwoWheelsDC 146184 wrote:

Capitol Hill or the Navy Yard/Ballpark area. Should be right at your rent limit, but the combination of walkability, bikeability, metro access, central location, and an endless supply of restaurants and things to do is nearly impossible to beat.

We live in the SE in the Capitol Hill not far from the Blue/Orange/Yellow metro line and so close to work that I have to range far and wide to get my miles in. Having 8th street for food is awesome, and the Miracle theater on weekends.

[Author]

Replies